Soltalk 2018 August 2017 - Page 11

News
Axarquía on drought
alert
Drought came one step closer last
month when a formal alert was issued
for the largest reservoir in the province
of Málaga. Hidrosur, which manages
Lake Viñuela in the Axarquía, said that
the level had dropped to 54.5
hectometres, just under a third of its
total capacity.
Experts say that the situation is only
likely to deteriorate with 100,000
hectares of crops to be irrigated and a
population which doubles in mid-
summer. Current use, covering
farming and drinking water, is
around one hectare a week, which
means supplies could only be
guaranteed for a year if there were to
be no rain.
Even if normal rainfall is experienced,
there is talk of restrictions coming into
force in mid-September. However, the
Junta de Andalucía has promised that a
drought will not be declared until the
end of the hydrological year on
September 30.
Mayors of the Axarquía towns which
depend on water from Lake Viñuela
have been critical of the way the
impending crisis is being managed.
Francisco Salado in Rincón de la
Victoria said measures are not taken
when needed, while Vélez-Málaga’s
Antonio Moreno Ferrer criticised lack
of action to stop leakages.
Gregorio Campos, president of the east
coast association of municipalities, the
Mancommunidad, claimed that only
40 per cent of the remaining water is
actually available for use because the
rest, he says, is mud. Campos, a former
mayor of Iznate, seemed to reflect the
general feeling when he expressed
continuing concern about the effects
on agriculture, but added that town
halls are now worrying about
supplying their populations. The Guardia Civil has issued a warning
about necklaces and bracelets made of
seeds which are being sold at markets
and by street traders. They include
Huayruro or Adrina seeds which are
round and coloured red with a black
stain, and which are highly toxic. Their
ingestion can lead to hallucinations,
poisoning and even death, and anyone
finding such jewellery should report
them immediately.
The last time a drought was declared
was in 2008 when 18 municipalities in
the Axarquía were affected. The
Environment Ministry then announced
an €11 million investment in
emergency measures to prevent the
situation happening again. However,
less than €7 million was spent and most
of the projects never came to fruition. Nerja is preparing for the town’s 21st
annual swim in the sea off Burriana
beach. There are seven age groups,
ranging from youngsters to veterans, in
the event planned for Sunday, August 6,
with the youngest taking on a 500 metre
course and adults swimming 1,200
metres. Participants, who will be limited
in numbers, should register at
www.doraslchip.es before 2.00pm on
August 3.
Salobreña beach
protest
They say rubbish containers are full
and the beaches are in a “shameful”
state with weeds growing, but no action
is taken. The protestors add that while
the popular Peñon beach is better
maintained, the others have no
Annual swim
Flip-flop alert
The Consumer and Nutrition Agency
has issued a warning about a brand of
men’s flip-flops being sold in some
Primark stores which have been recalled
in the UK. The alert concerns crisene, a
chemical used in their manufacture
which, in large amounts, has been
associated with the onset of cancer. All
stores have been ordered to remove the
shoes from their shelves.
Over a thousand local people took to
the streets of Salobreña last month to
protest about the state of the town’s
beaches. They are in the process of
formally constituting a new pressure
group to demand improved services
and facilities.
Carrying banners reading, “We pay
taxes, we want results,” they marched
from the beach to the town hall where
a manifesto outlining their complaints
was read out. They claim that a 10 per
cent rise in Salobreña’s IBI tax has not
resulted in any improvements, “quite
the reverse.”
Necklace warning
Minimum lessons
lifeguards and broken showers. “There
are first and second class beaches,” they
claim.
The group have warned that if there is
no improvement in beach services,
cleaning and lighting, they will
continue with further protests in
August.
9
Tráfico is considering changing the rules
governing driving tests. One proposal is
that candidates must have taken a
minimum number of lessons before
sitting the theory and practical exams.
The roads authority has also revealed
that 73% of candidates fail their first
driving test which, it says, contributes to
a long waiting time for test dates which
is anticipated to reach six months by
September.
See Smalltalk on
page 22